From the DW:
“Germany will not join US naval
mission in Strait of Hormuz”
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said
Germany will not be taking part in a US-led naval mission to secure oil tanker
ships sailing near Iran. The move comes after Washington formally urged Berlin
to join the mission. Germany will not participate in a naval mission in the
Strait of Hormuz that is led by the United States, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
said on Wednesday. "Germany will not take part in the sea mission
presented and planned by the United States," Maas told reporters during a
trip to Poland. In explaining the decision, Maas said that the German government
believes the US strategy of exercising "maximum pressure" against
Iran "is wrong." He added that Berlin wants to avoid further
escalating the situation in the region and that the government wants to focus
on a diplomatic solution to current tensions with Iran, emphasizing that
"there is no military solution." Germany had already expressed
skepticism about the mission, but had yet to reject it. Earlier on Wednesday,
Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said that Germany was
"examining" the requests, but indicated that Berlin was unlikely to
join. Kramp-Karrenbauer, considered to be a front-runner to succeed Chancellor
Angela Merkel, said that Berlin is committed to rescuing the 2015 Iran nuclear
deal, which is threatening to collapse after US President Donald Trump pulled
out of the accord.
US, UK propose Gulf missions
The announcement came after the
US formally requested Germany and other European allies take part in the
mission, which it says is needed to protect shipping routes in the Strait of
Hormuz. Almost a third of all oil exports pass through the waterway, which is
located between Iran and Oman. Washington proposed the mission earlier this
month, saying it was trying to get a coalition together to offer military
escorts to commercial ships in the Gulf. Last week, the UK said it wanted to
create a European-led mission in the Gulf to ensure the safe travel of cargo.
Several EU states showed interest in the British proposal, which could
potentially compliment US efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tensions on rise
The move came in response to Iran
seizing the British-flagged Stena Impero oil tanker and its 23 crew members as
it passed through the Strait on July 19. Tensions between Iran and Europe have
been increasing over Iran's decision to abandon parts of the 2015 nuclear deal
that restricted its nuclear program. Relations between the US and Iran have
also worsened in recent months. Washington has blamed Tehran over a string of
tanker attacks, while both countries claim to have shot down drones belonging
to the other state in the past several weeks.
^ This isn’t very surprising.
Germany’s Military is plagued with lack a of equipment, proper training and
recruits. They admitted that under the old Defense Minister (and little has
been done to change that.) Rather than come out and say that Germany is not
militarily-able to join this mission they make other excuses (ie. blame the US,
etc.) There should be an internationally-led naval mission in the Gulf of
Hormuz to make sure that no country disrupts the flow of supplies, materials,
oil, etc. Any country that does not want to participate in such a naval mission
should not expect any help if and when they ships or their supplies do not make
it through. ^
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